New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS

szE ISLES or THE PRINCES OR TIE n3 Pleas 3sIa
6REs OF PRINKIPo BY SAMUEL SAM g. Cox l2m0'
Dr. H. 3s1. G. p Putnams sons
M Cox describes the charms of summer resi-
A.rce IN an island of the Sea Of Marm0ra near the
entrance to the Bosphorus lie was close enough
"a Constan tinope 10 make daily visits to the Lega-
Hion 40 that he could combine fidelity to Official
Auty with the pleasures OF vacation. ana
he writes with becoming ardOr OF the enlightened
liberality of Congress in supplying the American
representative at the Sublime Porte with steam
launch for these and other diplomatic excursions.
30 well was he pleased with the boat that be
named it Sunset" The Isles of the Princes OF
which Prinkipo is the largest, belong OF course TO
Turkey. but the population is typcally and almost
entirely Greek. The scenery is exquisite the cli-
mate is benign and the interest of the
stranger is divided between the remains of Byzan-
tian palaces. the villas of wealthy merchants OF
Constantinople and ancient fOrtress-like monas-
teries still devoted to the religious uses OF tue
Greek Church. Mr. Cox appears to have en)oyeh
himself highly amidst these scenes. and he does
his best TO infect tie reader with his enthusiasm.
His rambling talks are. as usual, VlVaclouS anu
sportive, and he skIps from Joke to Joke WIN
an agility fostered by long practice. But some
thing-dplomacy. perhaps, or the languorous
atmosphere of the isles, or can ii be that even MI
Cox feels the touch of Christening time '-has mod
Grated his old freshness As we open the book we
of en- fancy indeed that the familiar figure bounds
10 the front with his " Hcle we are again!" But
he is not so deliberately aud continuously facetious
as he nsed to be. We like him much better thus. To
be forever funny is q great strain, and 1t is mex
pressibIy refreshing to sink INTO occasional soDrl-
eiy. His volume contains number of pictures. III
which the abuses of process-reproduction are car
ried to deplorabe lengths If the decentralization
Of the art continues. fastidions publishers VIII be
driven to announce their best books with no Illus
trations"
"REMINISCENCES OF WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK.
Go.
tribute of this nature calls for no criticism
In the present instance it needs no apology. MIS-
Hancock has not undertaken to repeat the story OF
her husbands llustriOus service IN the War OF the
Rebellion but she has collected sketches aud
anecdotes of early army lfe with great many
personal incidents of later times and OF these she
has made book which admirers of the brilliant
soldier will read with pleasure. copious ap-
pendx, filling nearly half the volume gives
narrative by the late General c. H. Morgan. chief
OF staff of the operations of the Second Corps under
Hancock's command down to the victory of Gettys-
burg, together with various other documents. and
a number of letters and addresses
A HISTORY OrTHE NEGRO TROOPS IN THE VAR
WILLIAMS. IL d. 12mo up XXI, 3o3 Harper *
Brothers
Mr.. Williams has written an excellent book. lie
was one of the gallant men whose patriotic deeds
ne commentaries, and he has made careful study
of all the best accessible records of their achieve
ments His people may well be proud of the show
lug They exhibit dunng the war many of the
finest qualities of the sodier,-patience endurance.
docility ambition, stcadness under fire, dashing
courage in the assault. pride in their calling,
devotion to their flag. No fewer than $4,000
were borne on the rolls of our army, and the
testimony TO their conduct and efficiency is
oveI whelming. Mr.. Williams gives with minute
ness history of the variable and contradictory
policies OF the President and some of his generals
With respect to the protection of "contrabands
and their employment for military purposes, and
he judges the delay of the Government in reaching
the high ground upon which ii finally took 1t
stand with extreme severity. Here he is unjust.
Mr.. Lincon's conduct is much better understood
now than il was even half generation ago; and
whatever We may think of the soundness of his
reasons for a SLOW cautions and conservative
course, can see that they were such reasons as
a wise and patriotic statesman might well have
found controlling. II the negroes had been armed
early the 1t is by no means certain that the
experiment would have turned out as well as 1t
did. They ready: but the Northern whites
were not We had to learn many things by pain
ful experence; and one of the last lessons that
mastered was how TO appreciate the negro Mr..
Williams has added TO his account of the services
of black troops during the Rebellion some highly
Interesting particulars of their employment during
the American Revolution. and in various wars OF
ancient and modern times